When were those good old days? I was just reading a bio of US grant a few weeks ago, and they had similar financial scandals after the Civil War as we have had in recent years. Grant even got snookered a couple of times. I didn't see anything in there that indicated those crooks were any less shameless than our crooks, or that there was any greater amount of honor.

The Genesis story in the Bible is a fable about knowing what the right thing is, and failing to choose it. It was written long ago. It is now 2012.

In what halcyon period between then and now did people know what the right thing was? And what caused people to forget it?

I shouldn't belabor this. But I hate hackery. No offense, Ed. Honestly.

Spare me the fable stuff, and spare me your hackery.

The point of the apple story is to show how strong the pull of evil is and that we have to be on guard.

Evil is very seductive.

The period I had in mind, though, was about 100 years ago. People, particularly in Western society, had a pretty good idea of what the right thing was and, at least in the upper classes and even among the commoners, approbation was such that people could be shamed for not doing the right thing.

(and, yes, I don't doubt Seven has individual examples where it worked otherwise..., but the system pretty much worked; that's why the Lefties have worked so hard the last hundred years trying to tear it down)

Her fool is about to go down hard for using a donor's secret money as a campaign expense instead of a love gift to Johnny. Why the Johnny could not pay Riell's expenses himself is unexplained. Maybe it was the evil Elizabeth who would not die on time.

So, in 1910, right around when the Titanic happened. Women and children first, right? And, of course, only a fraction of enough lifeboat spaces for the passengers on board. Jim Crow in full blossom as well.

Incidentally, Ed, the tree of knowledge that the serpent provides access to is not evil. It's knowledge. Thus the name. Knowledge.

There's nothing in the Book of Genesis about the devil or about evil, unless you consider knowledge to be evil, and if you see the devil in the story, you are adding something that is not in the story at all. It's just not there.

Incidentally, Ed, the tree of knowledge that the serpent provides access to is not evil. It's knowledge. Thus the name. Knowledge.

There's nothing in the Book of Genesis about the devil or about evil, unless you consider knowledge to be evil, and if you see the devil in the story, you are adding something that is not in the story at all. It's just not there.

I'm aware of all that. Believe it or not, I had to read it in school, many moons ago, but I'm one of those people who understands it as allegory, which is the way it's been viewed through the centuries.

If only these guys were govt employee union members. they'd be unfireable ...

Title 5 US Code defines Secret Service officers, among others in federal service, as "LEO's" ...e.g., Law Enforcement Officers. To my knowledge, based upon my military and federal time, there is no reason Secret Service personnel can't join AFGE, the federal employee union. AFGE must represent all members of a bargaining unit, whether or not the individuals have elected to join the union and pay dues. AFGE does not bargain for wages or benefits, mostly for work rules and conditions.

Also, nobody not elected is "unfireable" ... I fired three for cause in my time. Yes, I was charged by EEOC each time, but payouts to the schmucks were small, face savers. The A-holes were not hired back.

One anomaly in this is that "LEO's" qualify for earlier and more generous retirement benefit than ordinary civil servants, in fact they are eligible for the same treatment as Congress persons ... or vice versa, as your opinion takes offense. In other words, the Congress guy who thinks Guam might tip over in to the Pacific, as well as the Congress dude who think Solyndra makes cars, is eligible for LEO retirement benefits.... just like an FBI agent. Hello?

If you hug your pillow, and become unconsciousIf you feel his gaze, pointing to your heart If nothing feels normal and your vision turns upside downEverything turns, turns and turns, it’s the end of the beginning. If in your dreams you keep a place for himIf you wait awake through the night for the dawnIf your imagination does not let you breathe, you set fireFire, fire, then there is nothing more to do.

Hay, hay, hay, hay, it is the love that has arrivedHay, hay, hay, hay, wake up or it will leave, it is just Magical, frivolous, when love beckons he plays to winHay, hay, hay, please let me catch youHay, hay, hay, hay, it could be a thief He is the only scoundrel, cynical If a fight ensues he is always the winner.

If you look at the stars, looking for I don’t know what If you feel your eyes unintentionally going under If you notice heat rising suddenly to a breaking point And it burns strong, strong, strong, then good luck

Hay, hay, hay, hay, it is the love that has arrivedHay, hay, hay, hay, wake up or it will leave, it is just Magical, frivolous, when love beckons he plays to win Hay, Hay, Hay, Hay, please let me catch youHay, hay, hay, hay, it could be a thief, He is the only scoundrel, cynical, If a fight ensues he is always the winner.

Hay, hay, hay, hay, please let me catch youHay, hay, hay, hay, it could be a thief He is the only scoundrel, cynical, If a fight ensues he is always the winner.

Hay, hay, hay, hay, it is the love that has arrivedHay, hay, hay, wake up or it will leave, it is just unique, magical, mischievous...

There's nothing in the Book of Genesis about the devil . yes there is .There is refenece to Lucifer and the curse on the war between the serpent and the women .And yes knowledge is evil in the Bible. You must make a fool of yourselve to be saved. Saint Paul

Am informed by an Australian physician that the term "hooker" in reference to a prostitute is derived from camp followers of Union General Joseph Hooker. Australians use "hooker" to refer to the big guys at the center of a rugby scrum.

"There's nothing in the Book of Genesis about the devil or about evil, unless you consider knowledge to be evil, and if you see the devil in the story, you are adding something that is not in the story at all. It's just not there."